Automatic reconfiguration system for change in management servers

ABSTRACT

A client on a network is provided with auxiliary low power logic, at the network adaptor, that is always active and simulates network traffic (e.g., Ethernet format) normally sent under control of the main client system processor(s). This logic collects client status information and reports to the network manager, even when the system CPU is powered down, information which allows the network manager to exercise broader control and perform maintenance and upgrades which would otherwise require a dialog with the user and/or limit maintenance and reconfiguration of the client system to off-hours activity.

[0001] Application Ser. No. ______ concurrently filed herewith andentitled “INTERACTIVE SYSTEM SUPPORT USING A SYSTEM MANAGEMENT ASIC.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to computer systems coupled to anetwork and more particularly to a system having logic to receivetransmissions across a connection to a network to allow forautomatically updating configuration information and system managementparameters.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Personal computer systems are well known in the art. Personalcomputer systems have attained widespread use for providing computerpower to many segments of modern society. A personal computer (PC) cantypically be defined as a desktop, floor standing, or portablemicrocomputer that includes a system unit having a single centralprocessing unit (CPU) and associated volatile and non-volatile memory,including random access memory (RAM) and basic input-output system readonly memory (BIOS ROM), a system monitor, a keyboard, one or moreflexible diskette drives, a CD-ROM drive, a fixed disk storage drive(also known as a “hard drive”), a “mouse” or pointing device, and anoptional network interface adapter. One of the distinguishingcharacteristics of such a system is the use of a motherboard or systemplanar to electrically or operationally connect these componentstogether. Examples of such PCS are computer systems within IBM's PC 300series and IBM's IntelliStation Series. The PC of the before referencedrelated patent document Serial No. 104835 identified in the illustrationof FIG. 3 thereof and as described in the patent document specificationthereof, is an example of a typical client computer system.

[0006] With PCS being increasingly connected into networks to allowtransfers of data among computers, more operations such as maintenance,updating of applications and data collections are occurring over thenetwork. As computers are also becoming more and more essential to theirusers, it is desirable to minimize loss of productivity by increasingthe availability of PCS. This includes detection and reporting ofintermittent failures on a system that will allow system administratorsto schedule maintenance forthe PC at a convenient time.

[0007] In addition, the immediate detection and reporting of aninoperable PC is required, since it has an immediate impact toproductivity. There is no reason to wait until employees arrive on thenext working day to discover that the machine failed yesterday or overthe weekend.

[0008] One solution to this problem has been alert technology, such asIBM's Alert on LAN technology, which supports detection and reporting offailures over a network. Alert on LAN solution creates network alerts toprovide event and status information to a network administrator. Thetechnology detects and reports events such as operating system (OS)hang, POSTIBIOS error codes, and voltage and temperature problems.

[0009] When the client systems are deployed, the network administratormust configure the alerts supported and the TCP/IP Internet Protocol(IP) information for the administrators management console Thisinformation is then stored in a non-volatile EEPROM in the clientsystem.

[0010] It is normal to custom configure the system unit of a computersystem for a user at a corporate configuration center or at the usersite. When done at a configuration center the resources and skillsneeded are available, but the computer must be removed from thepackaging, set up, configured with BIOS and a program image, andconfigured to support system management applications such as Alert onLAN and then repackaged to be sent to the end user. At the time ofconfiguration, the final location or owner of the system may not beknown. Therefore at the time of configuration the IP address ofmanagement server is not possible, given that most networks have severalmanagement consoles. The missing critical pieces of information willrequire re-configuration at the final location.

[0011] At the user site, roll out and updating of systems is a lessefficient use of resources but avoids the determining-final-locationproblem. For complex system management program images, it may benecessary to send out a skilled configuration expert thus consuming timewhen the expert's valuable skills could otherwise be put to use, as theexpert travels to the user site.

[0012] Accordingly, a number of methods have been developed forsimplifying the remote 15 configuration of computer systems. Forexample, the Desktop Management Interface (DMI) industry standardprovides a mechanism to retrieve and update remotely from a clientpersonal computer. The DMI technology is widely used in standard systemmanagement applications such as Intel's LANDesk programs and IBM'sNetFinity program.

[0013] The task of re-configuring IP headers using DMI is accomplishedby the following steps. First the management server must discover allthe systems on the network. The management server can only do first timediscovery of systems on the network if they are in full power on staterunning OS with a management application with DMI capabilities such asIntel's LANDesk Client Manger or IBM NetFinity. After the system isdiscovered it is placed into a database. Next the systems must be placedin a full-on power state, since DMI runs on the OS. This may beaccomplished using Wake on LAN technology. Finally DMI is used tore-configure the IP header by sending commands to the Alert on LANmanagement application. This is a complicated and time consumingoperation, given that several hundred machines are set up to send alertsto a single server. This mechanism also requires the systemadministrator to gain control of each system to accomplish the update.

[0014] The time required to update each system unfortunately provides anopportunity for loss of information, since information sent by a client,prior to being reconfigured to the new server, is lost. There is apotential significant down-time when there is a change in server due toa crash or network issue. Each client system must be reconfigured withthe IP address of the new management server. In the case of routinemaintenance, it is possible to avoid loss of information, but thereconfiguration process is very time consuming and potentiallydisruptive to operation on the client.

[0015] What is needed is a robust and effective mechanism to update thedestination IP address in the client PCS to point to the new server. Thepresent invention provides for such a mechanism and will update the IPaddress regardless of the power state, i.e., full-on, sleep, or off, ofthe client. In addition, the mechanism provides for an advantageousmethod for handling updates to groups of systems within a network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention recognizes that by designing improvedhardware reception capabilities in the computer. It is possible toreconfigure a system unit at a remote location without requiring DMI.The invention involves the recognition that a system normally, and forgood reason, protects itself from being reconfigured remotely, and it isdesirable to override these protections and have the computerautomatically reconfigure based on a special packet from a managementconsole.

[0017] One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a methodfor detecting re-configuration packets from a management console andthen updating hardware configuration. The system, when necessary, issupplied with auxiliary power and is operative to receive and acceptupdates regardless of the system power state. The method includesproviding a computer system connected to a management console via a datatransmission network. The invention includes a detection scheme torecognize reconfiguration network packets. The invention furtherincludes a scheme for the computer to handle re-configuration ofsubgroups of machines.

[0018] The present invention recognizes that certain normalreconfiguration operations, that involve updating operations as opposedto initialization operations, are minor operations but nonetheless areexpensive and time consuming because, for example, a service person mustcome to the site or use a time consuming process, such as employing DMItechniques to make the desired changes. By so modifying thereconfiguration process, the PCS can be controlled based on predefinednetwork commands without requiring software intervention. Such“hardware” modifications can be performed by the network administratorwithout requiring a service call.

[0019] While remote wakeup of client systems has made the networkmanager's support of client systems more convenient, it is limited inthat it requires software applications running at the client formaintenance operations or updates. Related patent application Ser. No.09/024,231 describes logic for responding to status information queriesfrom a main computer over the network.

[0020] According to the present invention, included is an auxiliaryprocessor that communicates with the network adapter and is always “on”as a result of trickle power, and it receives commands through aconnection to the network through a portion of the network adapter,which is also trickle powered to always be “on.” The auxiliary processorlistens for occasional signals, in network format, from the managementconsole indicating a re-configuration request for action on the client.This allows the network manager to perform operations without a timeconsuming operation of reconfiguration which occurs using, for example,DMI or making a service call. Hence while there is a service callnormally required to change IP settings, the auxiliary processorprovides the ability to selectively reconfigure hardware according tothe invention, which results in making remote maintenance moreeffective.

[0021] According to a preferred implementation, the signals areintroduced to the network side of the “physical layer” of the networkcontroller. The physical layer is the layer that provides themechanical, electrical, functional and procedural means to establish,maintain and release physical connections over the transmission mediumand it conditions the packet signal to analog form to send and receiveover the physical connecting network that is the LAN. By so configuringthe packet to have the characteristics of a standard packet, it passesthrough the network as if a normal packet is received by the client.

[0022] It is recognized, by the invention, that additional commands andother information are to be received from the network manager to provideincreased remote maintenance support, but that it is not desirable tochange from existing PC network structures and protocols and the majorinstalled infrastructure of PC networks. According to the invention, lowpower logic is provided that is always active and simulates normalnetwork data traffic (e.g., Ethernet format) normally sent from andreceived by the client system.

[0023] The PC stays active, preferably full time, and is able, on anongoing basis, at a minimum, to monitor the network scanning forre-configuration packets. By so maintaining the ability to respondimmediately to changes in management consoles at the client, the networkmanager is made aware of the actual conditions at the client withoutloss of information due to a network circumstance or change inmanagement consoles. A problem can be addressed while the machine isunattended and possibly before the user realizes a problem exists.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network arrangement suitable forimplementation of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system client with networkconnection circuitry without the benefit of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system client with added logic,according to the principles of the present invention, coupled to thenetwork connection circuitry for receiving and executing a command;

[0027]FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the LAN adapter from FIG. 3and logic for the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary packet ofa LAN system based on an Ethernet specification;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the data area from FIG.5 with details for reception according to the principles of the presentinvention; and

[0030]FIG. 7 is a flow chart indicating logic for generation of thetransmitted-data packets of FIG. 5 which may be implemented as hardlogic or by using a programmed general purpose processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] While the present invention is described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferredembodiment and exemplary illustrations of the present invention isshown, it is to be understood, that with regard to the description ofthe specification and figures, that persons of ordinary skill in theappropriate arts may modify the invention herein described while stillachieving the favorable results of this invention. Accordingly, thedescription which follows is to be understood as being a broad teachingdisclosure directed to persons of ordinary skill in the appropriatearts, and not as limiting upon the present invention.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, a network master 100, hereinafter sometimesreferred to as management console, is connected to a hub 102 by a LANconnector bus 106. Respective client stations or systems 104,illustrated as exemplary systems 104A, 104B and 104C, are also connectedto the hub 102 through respective LAN busses 106. The preferredillustrated and exemplary form of network conforms to the Ethernetspecification and uses such hubs. It will be appreciated however thatother forms of networks, such as, but not limited to, Token-Ring areapplicable to the present invention.

[0033] A computer system suitable for use as a client station 104 toembody the present invention is indicated in FIG. 2. A centralprocessing unit (CPU) 200 is connected by address, control and databusses 202 to a memory controller and PCI bus bridge chip 204. Systemmemory 206 is connected to the memory controller 204. Connected tostandard PCI expansion bus 208 are the memory controller PCI bridge chip204, IDE device controller 220, PCI connector slots 210, and a PCI busto ISA bus bridge chip 212 which typically also includes powermanagement logic. ISA standard expansion bus 214 with ISA expansionconnector slots 216 is connected to bridge chip 212. It will beappreciated that other expansion bus types may be used to permitexpansion of the system with added devices and it is not necessary tohave two expansion busses.

[0034] In an intelligent client station 104 there would normally beinput devices and data storage devices such as a fixed and a floppydrive 222 and 224, respectively. The fixed drive 222 is connected to IDEcontroller 220, whereas the floppy drive 224 is connected to I/Ocontroller 218.

[0035] PCI-ISA bridge controller 212 includes an interface for Flashmemory 242, which contains microcode, which the system 104 executes uponpower-on. The flash memory 242 is a non-volatile storage device whichcan be an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM)module and includes BIOS that is used to interface between the 10devices and operating system. PCI-ISA bridge controller 212 alsocontains CMOS which is used to store system configuration data. That is,the CMOS will contain values which describe the present configuration ofthe system 104. For example, CMOS contains information describing thelist of IPL devices set by a user and the sequence to be used for aparticular power method, the type of display, the amount of memory,time, date, etc. Furthermore, these data are stored in CMOS whenever aspecial configuration program, such as configuration/setup is executed.PCI-ISA bridge controller 212 is supplied power from battery 244 toprevent loss of configuration data in CMOS.

[0036] A client system 104 has a network adapter 230, which may, forexample, be plugged into one of the connector slots 210 or in thealternative could connected to ISA slot 216 or embedded on the planarsuch as in the video. The client system 104 is shown with a specialpower supply 240 which supplies full normal system power and has aauxiliary power Aux 5 which supplies full time power to the powermanagement logic 212 and the network adapter 230. This enables thesystem, as is known, to respond to a wakeup signal from network adapter230 and power up the system. The network adapter 230 consists of aphysical layer 234 and a media access controller (MAC) 232 connectedthrough the MII (media independent interface) local bus. The MAC 232serves as an interface between a shared data path, i.e., the MII, andthe PCI bus 208. The MAC 232 performs a number of functions in thetransmission and reception of data packets. For example, during thetransmission of data, the MAC 232 assembles the data to be transmittedinto a packet with address and error detection fields. Conversely,during the reception of a packet, the MAC 232 disassembles the packetand performs address checking and error detection. In addition, the MAC232 typically performs encoding/decoding of digital signals transmittedover the shared path and performs preamble generation/removal, as wellas bit transmission/reception. As an example, the MAC 232 may be anIntel 82557 chip.

[0037] The MII bus is a specification of signals and protocols whichformalizes the interfacing of a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Media AccessController (MAC) 232 to the underlying physical layer 234. The physicallayer 234 conditions analog signals to go out to the network forexample, an Ethernet network over an RJ45 connector 236, as is wellknown. For example, the physical layer 234 can be a fully integrateddevice supporting 10 and 100 Mb/s CSMA/CD Ethernet applications. Thephysical layer 234 receives parallel data from the MII local bus andconverts it to serial data for transmission through the connector 236and over the cable network. The physical layer 234 is also responsiblefor wave shaping and provides analog voltages to the network. Thephysical layer can be, for example, an Integrated Circuits Systems chipNo. 1890. The physical layer 232 includes auto-negotiation logic thatserves three main purposes. First it determines the capabilities of themain computer, second it advertises its own capabilities to the maincomputer, and thirdly it establishes a connection with the main computerusing the highest performance connection technology. The physical layer232 also provides a LINK status signal that reflects the current linkstatus. The output of the LINK signal is low when a valid link existsbetween the system 104 and the main computer 100.

[0038] The media access controller (MAC) 232 processes the networksignals in digital form and connects to the PCI bus 208. The networkadapter 230, it should be appreciated, may be added as an adapter card(as shown) or implemented directly on the system motherboard. To supportwake-up operation, in the illustration of FIG. 2, it is powered from thefull time auxiliary line Aux 5.

[0039] The illustrated exemplary client system 104 of FIG. 3incorporates a specially modified network adapter 231 with a logicmodule 300° according to the principles of the present invention,connected at the MI bus that extends between the physical layer 234 andthe MAC 232. This logic may be a “hard wired” application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmed general-purpose processorwhich is programmed as more fully described hereinbelow. By soconnecting the logic 300 at the MII bus, it can send and receive networkpackets using the physical layer 234. The invention is using hardware tohandle a very limited number of predefined packets that are created anddecoded by hardware. This approach bypasses the software stack andallows the ASIC to send and receive UDP (User Datagram Protocol)datagrams thru the physical layer. The logic 300, according to theinvention, accepts data from the physical layer 234 and provides updatedconfiguration information stored in EEPROM 302, a non-volatile memorystorage device. With the trickle power supplied on bus Aux 5. of powersupply 240, the logic 231 is preferably powered full time. ManagementASIC 300 is connected to bridge controller 212 via the System Management(SM) bus 310. This provides a path to allow software running on PC 104to access the management ASIC 300 and the EEPROM 302. The principlestaught could be applied to integrated MAC-PHY solutions such as Intelproduct device #82558, or integrated MAC-PHY Management ASIC solutions.

[0040] Component modules of the logic module 300 are indicated in FIG.4. Signals are received from the MII bus by interface unit 414 andpassed to RX (reception) FIFO (first-in-first-out) 410. Micro controller402 coordinates the processing of information according to theprinciples of the present invention. The micro controller 402 accessesEEPROM 302 through interface control lines 411 to EEPROM interface 420to obtain values to create network packets such as source anddestination MAC address, IP protocol information, authentication headersand Universal Data Packet headers. Furthermore EEPROM 302 retains theuniversal identifier (UUID) for the client system 104 and the uniquesystem data. UUID stands for Universal Unique Identifier which is a partof Microsoft's PC98 specification and provides a unique number for everyPC. The system unique data would be that data which defaults for alertsenabled/disabled, timers for watchdogs and system and group keys for theclient PC.

[0041] The micro controller 402 consists of several state machines tohandle the following tasks: packet reception, packet transmission, SMbus interface transmission and EEPROM updates. The micro controller 402sends commands to FIFO control 412 to control data flow from TX(transmission) FIFO 408 and RX FIFO 410. Them micro controller402 alsoresponds to a SM bus 310 request from software running on a PC 104 toaccess Register Status 416 or access EEPROM 302.

[0042] When a network packet is received the micro controller 402processes the data in the packet according to the invention anddetermines whether the packet is a standard data packet or a managementpacket. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a defined packetis the result of updating with the values in non-volatile EEPROM 302.The micro controller 402 responds to the management console 100 toindicate completion of updates by sending a response message by sendinga packet to TX FIFO 408 which transfers the packet to Mil bus Interface414 and then on to physical layer 234 over the MII bus.

[0043] A standard packet including a network header and data packet, asmight be sent over an Ethernet network, is indicated in FIG. 5. Thenetwork header 510 includes a MAC header 500, an IP header 502,Authentication header 504, and UDP header 506, and is known to provideaddresses, identifiers and other information for assuring correcttransfer. The data packet 508 includes the information content to betransferred. For reception, the straight Magic Packet or ConfigurationID 600 has, as shown in FIG. 6, content known as 6 bytes of FFh followedby 12 copies of client MAC address. With the special extensions,Configuration ID 600 and Configuration Data 602, the network manager 100may send commands to logic module 300. Logic module 300 in system 104determines if the command is directed to that client. For the presentembodiment with a simplified description, the command is limited to achange in IP address or network address of the management console 100.

[0044] For the reception of packets received by logic module 300, thedata patterns, according to the principles of the present invention,indicated in FIG. 6 are preferably followed. The data field is checkedfor configuration packet by determining if it contains Configuration ID,which consists of UUID and Old Servers IP, MAC, and UDP Port. The datafield of Configuration Data 602 contains the information required forthe update, such as System key, Group Key, New Server IP, New ServerMAC, and New UDP Port. The field could contain the new values. The microcontroller 402 in logic 300 transfers the contents of the new header toFe non-volatile storage or EEPROM 302.

[0045] As hereinbefore stated, the data portion of the Data Packet 508contains two areas of data. In the preferred embodiment, the first fieldis the Configuration ID field 600 of FIG. 6. The Configuration ID 600field contains the UUID of the client machine for the current old, orexisting management servers network address which consists of IP, MAC,and UDP port assignment. The micro controller 402 inspects that data andcompares it against the values stored in EEPROM 302 to ensure a matchbetween the information in Configuration ID 600 and the currentmanagement server.

[0046] When a match occurs, the micro controller 402 inspects the datacontents of 10 configuration data 602 to the command applied to client104. Even though the management server 100 sends a command to allclients on the network, the command may only be intended for a group ofclients. This is handled by two additional match fields, the system keyand the group key. The system and group keys are “pseudo passwords” forclient 104 for addressing the machine uniquely or as part of a group ofsystems. If a match occurs the micro controller 402 takes the new valuesfor the management server 100 (IP, MAC, and UDP port) from configurationdata 602 and updates EEPROM 302.

[0047] The packet format can be implemented as follows for an Ethernetpacket: Bytes (Hex) Description  1-29 <Ethernet/IP/UDP Headers> 2A-2FOld Server MAC Address 30-33 Old Server IP Address 34-39 New Server MACAddress 3A-3D New Server IP Address. 3E-3F New Server UDP Port

[0048] Another option for updating is the use of authentication keys.During the initial configuration or roll out, the Alert on LAN is setupwith two Authentication Keys. The first key is unique to each machineand the second key is typically set the same for a group of systemswhich could, for example, be in the same building, on the same floor,serving the same function, etc.) This provides the flexibility to modifythe IP address on an individual client basis or as a group of clients.The packet contains these keys and the new server addresses. Thehardware will compare the authentication keys sent from the server tothe keys located in the Alert On LAN EEPROM. When updating an individualmachine, the group key is left blank, and when updating a group ofmachines, the individual machine key is left blank. Using AuthenticationKeys, the packet format can be implemented as follows, for example, foran Ethernet packet: Bytes (Hex) Description  1-29 <Ethernet/IP/UDPHeaders> 30-3F Authentication key (for individual) 40-4F Authenticationkey (for group) 50-55 New Server MAC Address 56-59 New Server IPAddress. 5A-5B New Server UDP

[0049] Security for either option for updating can be implemented usinga TCP/IP Authentication Header (AH) or an Encapsulating Security Payload(ESP) Header detailed in RFC 1825. The management ASIC would also beequipped to interpret the Header and decode the data.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated the process, startingat step 700, used by micro controller 402 in implementing attributes ofthe invention. The micro controller 402, at step 702, waits for a packetand upon receiving one, at step 704, checks to determine authenticationof encrypted data in the packet. Only authenticated packets are used tochange management server parameters to eliminate concern of anunauthorized user or hacker entering or damaging the network. Nonauthenticated packets are assumed to be data and sent to OS at step 714.Packets authenticated at steps 706, 708 and 710, are then checked todetermine if they contain valid data at step 712. For authentication,first the security load parameter is done at step 706 and the sequencenumber is loaded at step 708. The next measure, at step 710, isdecrypting the authenticated packet. Once authentication is complete, atstep 712, invalid data is ignored and valid data is checked for aconfiguration packet at step 720.

[0051] Configuration packets are determined by checking forConfiguration ID 600 and Configuration Data 602. If the packet is not aconfiguration packet, the packet is assumed to be an encrypted datapacket and the data is sent to OS at step 714. Configuration packets arechecked for a system key match at step 724 and for a group key match atstep 726. If a system key match is confirmed at step 724, the steps of728,729 and 730 follow, if no system key match is found then at step 726a check is made for a group key match. If a group key match is confirmedthan the exemplary steps of 728.730 and 732 are carried out for thegroup of the client systems. The system key and group key are containedin EEPROM 302. If a match is found, then new configuration data (ServerIP, MAC, Port) are pulled from the Configuration Data packet 602 at step728, as stated. The EEPROM is updated at step 730 and then the newconfiguration is applied at step 732.

[0052] The invention has been described with reference to preferredimplementations thereof, but it will be appreciated that variations andmodifications within the scope of the claimed invention will besuggested to those skilled in the art. For example, the invention may beimplemented on networks other than Ethernet networks such as token ringnetworks or used to control other aspects of a system.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal computer client system, for a datanetwork including at least one personal computer client system and aserver having an internet protocol destination address, comprising: acentral processing unit (CPU); memory; a non-volatile memory storagedevice for storing the destination address of the server; and a networkadaptor with a reception portion connected to the data network forreceiving network packet signals on the data network from the server ina predefined analog format and decoding the network packet signalshaving the internet protocol address of the server to a digital formatand providing the internet protocol address of the server to the memorystorage device to store the destination address of the server.
 2. Thepersonal computer client system according to claim 1 , wherein the datanetwork conforms to the Ethernet specification and the network packetsignals on the network are digitally encoded analog signals.
 3. Thepersonal computer client system according to claim 1 , further includingauxiliary logic as a part of the network adaptor for applying networkpacket signals periodically to indicate selected state informationregarding the personal computer client system.
 4. The personal computerclient system according to claim 1 , further including auxiliary logicas a part of the network adaptor and electrically connected to bepowered and active during a state of less than full power being providedto the CPU of the personal computer client system to detect networkpacket signals received by the personal computer client system that hasdata including the server's internet protocol destination address. 5.The personal computer client system according to claim 4 , wherein thenetwork adaptor provides the data including the server's internetprotocol destination address to the memory storage device for storingthe data.
 6. The personal computer client system according to claim 11wherein the network adaptor includes a physical layer connected to thedata network for receiving and transmitting network data packets to andfrom the server on the network side of the physical layer and fortransmission of received network data packets, including data related tothe server's internet protocol destination address, on the client sideof the physical layer on a media independent interface bus to anauxiliary logic as a part of the network adaptor to detect network datapackets received by the personal computer client system that have dataincluding the server's internet protocol destination address.
 7. Thepersonal computer client system according to claim 6 . further includinga non-volatile storage device for storing data including the server'sinternet protocol destination address.
 8. The personal computer clientsystem according to claim 7 , wherein the auxiliary logic includes amicro controller having state machines for managing data packetreception, data packet transmission and non-volatile storage devicetransmission.
 9. The personal computer client system according to claim8 , further including in the personal computer client system a PCI bus,an ISA bus, a PCI/ISA bridge, and wherein the micro controller has astate machine for managing bus transmission between the network adaptorand the PCI bus and the ISA bus.
 10. A method for providing updateconfiguration data for a client personal computer system in a datanetwork including a server, having configuration data including aninternet protocol destination address, and at least one client personalcomputer system having a storage device for storing configuration dataand a micro controller for receiving network signal packets from theserver and for configuring the client personal computer system withupdated configuration data, including the internet protocol destinationaddress of the server, comprising the steps of: receiving a networksignal packet sent from the server in the micro controller in the atleast one client personal computer system; determining that the networksignal packet includes the server's internet protocol destinationaddress; determining that the network signal packet is a match for theany one of the at least one client personal computer system; andupdating the storage device of the any one of the at least one clientpersonal computer system with the included internet protocol destinationaddress of the server.
 11. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein,after the step of receiving the network signal packet, there is a stepof authenticating the encryption of the network signal packet toauthenticate the presence of encrypted data in the network signalpacket.
 12. The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein, after the stepof authenticating the encryption of the network packet, there is a stepof validation of the data authenticated in the step of authenticatingthe encryption of the network packet.
 13. The method as defined in claim12 , wherein in determining that the network signal packet includes theservers internet protocol destination address, the presence in thenetwork signal packet of configuration identification and configurationdata is determined.
 14. The method as defined in claim 13 , wherein inthe step of determining whether the network signal packet is a match forany one of the at least one client personal computer system, there is afirst determination as to whether the network signal packet isidentified to any one of the least one client personal computer systemsand a second determination as to whether the network signal packet isidentified to a plurality of client personal computer systems.
 15. Amethod for providing update configuration data for a client personalcomputer system in a data network including a server, havingconfiguration data including an internet protocol destination address,and at least one client personal computer system having a storage devicefor storing configuration data and a micro controller for receivingnetwork signal packets from the server and for configuring the at leastone client personal computer system with updated configuration data,including the internet protocol destination address of the server,comprising the steps of: receiving a network signal packet sent from theserver in the micro controller in the at least one client personalcomputer system; authenticating encryption of the network signal packetto authenticate the presence of encrypted data in the network signalpacket; validating the data authenticated in the step of authenticatingthe encryption of the network signal packet; determining that thenetwork signal packet includes the servers internet protocol destinationaddress by determining the presence in the network signal packet ofconfiguration identification and configuration data for the server;determining that the network signal packet is a match for the any one ofthe at least one client personal computer systems by first determiningthat the network signal packet is identified to a specific one of the atleast one client personal computer systems and otherwise determining asto whether the network signal packet is identified to a plurality ofclient personal computer systems; and updating the storage device of anyidentified client personal computer systems with the included internetprotocol destination address of the server.
 16. A personal computerclient system, for a data network including at least one personalcomputer client system and a server, having an internet protocoldestination address, connected to each other through a networkcommunication system, comprising: a central processing unit (CPU);memory; a memory controller connecting the memory to the CPU; a PCI bus;a PCI bridge connecting the PCI bus to the memory controller and theCPU; an ISA bus; a PCI/ISA bridge connecting the ISA bus to the PCI bus;a power management device connected to a power supply device; a networkadapter connected to the PCI bus and the network communication system; aphysical layer as a part of the network adapter connected to the networkcommunication system to receive network packet signals from the server;a media access controller as a part of the network adapter connected tothe PCI bus; a media independent interface (MII) bus connected to thephysical layer and the media access controller; an EEPROM for storingthe destination address of the server; and a logic module connected tothe EEPROM and to the MII bus for receiving and detecting network packetsignals having data related to the internet protocol destination addressof the server and providing the data related to the internet protocoladdress of the server to the EEPROM to store the destination address ofthe server.
 17. A personal computer client system, for a local areanetwork (LAN) including at least one personal computer client system anda server having an internet protocol destination address, comprising: acentral processing unit (CPU); memory; a non-volatile memory storagedevice for storing the destination address of the server; and a networkadaptor with a reception portion connected to the data network forreceiving network packet signals on the data network from the server ina predefined analog format and decoding the network packet signalshaving the internet protocol address of the server to a digital formatand providing the internet protocol address of the server to the memorystorage device to store the destination address of the server.
 18. Thepersonal computer client system according to claim 17 , furtherincluding auxiliary logic as a part of the network adaptor for applyingnetwork packet signals periodically to indicate selected stateinformation regarding the personal computer client system.
 19. Thepersonal computer client system according to claim 17 , furtherincluding auxiliary logic as a part of the network adaptor andelectrically connected to be powered and active during a state of lessthan full power being provided to the CPU of the personal computerclient system to detect network packet signals received by the personalcomputer client system that has data including the server's internetprotocol destination address.
 20. The personal computer client systemaccording to claim 17 , wherein the network adaptor includes a physicallayer connected to the LAN network for receiving and transmittingnetwork data packets to and from the server on the network side of thephysical layer and for transmission of received network data packets,including data related to the server's internet protocol destinationaddress, on the client side of the physical layer on a media independentinterface bus to an auxiliary logic as a part of the network adaptor todetect network data packets received by the personal computer clientsystem that have data including the servers internet protocoldestination address.